McIlroy keeps leaders in his sights

GOLF HONDA CLASSIC:RORY MCILROY made a brilliant recovery yesterday to keep alive his chances of winning only his second professional tournament.

After two bogeys in the first six holes of his second round at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, in Florida, the 19-year-old from Holywood, Co Down, birdied four out of the five holes around the turn and then parred in for a 68.

On two under par at the halfway mark, he was in a tie for ninth place only four behind the two early clubhouse leaders, Australian Robert Allenby and American Will MacKenzie.

Among the players overtaken by McIlroy, a quarter-finalist on the pro debut in the States at last week’s WGC-Accenture Matchplay, was world number two Sergio Garcia.

The 29-year-old Spaniard could add only a 72 to his opening 67 to be one under and down from joint second overnight to 19th. And that was with half the field still out on the Champions course.

Allenby, having set the pace with a 66 on day one, posted a 68 and was caught when MacKenzie returned his second successive 67.

Justin Rose crashed out on 12 over after a desperately disappointing 79. It contained double bogeys on the 16th and 17th, part of the feared “Bear Trap” closing stretch.

The short 17th had cost McIlroy a triple bogey six in his first-round 70.

- WGC:Tiger Woods will play at next week's WGC-CA Championship in Florida, the PGA Tour announced yesterday.

Woods resumed his career last week after an eight-month lay-off following reconstructive knee surgery, reaching the second round of the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship. The world number one was knocked out by South Africa’s Tim Clark and would not specify when or where he would play next.

The 33-year-old had until yesterday to confirm his appearance at next week’s tournament at Doral near Miami, Florida, and the PGA Tour issued a press release ahead of schedule that Woods will be in the 77-man field.

- LPGA TOUR:US golfers Paula Creamer and Jane Park retained the lead halfway through the HSBC Champions women's tournament in Singapore as defending champion Lorena Ochoa dropped four shots behind. Creamer and Park, playing together, followed opening 67s with rounds of 71 to move to six-under-par at the LPGA-sanctioned tournament at the Tanah Merah Country Club – one clear of Australian Katherine Hull and South Korean Mi Hyun Kim.

World number three-ranked Creamer, seeking a ninth LPGA title, stayed ahead even after enduring a second day of nausea and aching limbs having contracted a virus that made her sleep 12 hours the night before. “I’m not sure how much longer my body will let me play,” said Creamer. “On the back nine my body was not happy with me.”

Park, a close friend after playing junior golf with Creamer, had two birdies and a bogey before closing her round with a five-foot putt for par. The number 46-ranked player is chasing her first LPGA title after two second-place finishes. “I had a great time out there,” Park said. “I’ve got the dream job.”

Seventeen players are within four shots, with Ochoa two-under after a one-over-par 73 that included three bogeys on the back nine.